Friday, January 09, 2009

Gluten-Free Recipe : Polenta Vegetable Lasagna

Gluten-Free Recipe : Polenta Vegetable Lasagna

Looking for a simple way to create a gluten-free lasagna in a hurry? How about using pre-made polenta instead of lasagna noodles? My daughter created this gluten-free lasagna recipe while home for the holidays, and I found it quite enjoyable and delicious.

The recipe reminded me of "normal" (noodle / pasta based) lasagna quite a bit, since it still makes use of those all important lasagna components: cheese and tomato sauce / pasta sauce. But, it was also slightly different thanks to the flavor variation and texture differences from the polenta.

Layers of cheese, polenta, tomato/pasta-sauce, and vegetables come together in a baked lasagna that is simple and easy to prepare, and the number of servings can easily be scaled up as needed by choosing a larger pan and just more of the same ingredients.

The ingredients are somewhat free-form and you can vary them as you see fit in order to meet your tastes. For example, you can certainly use different vegetables if you do not have zucchini available or prefer eggplant instead, etc. This dish is all about simplicity and quick variations, so experiment with the concept and have some fun creating your own gluten-free polenta lasagna.

And, though you can certainly make you own polenta from scratch for use in this recipe, we purchased a pre-made gluten-free polenta "roll" (a plastic-enclosed cylinder / tube / roll shape package about 8" long and 3" round). We found a brand at the grocery store that was clearly labeled "gluten free", and chose a basil/garlic variety (there were a few flavors available in gluten-free options). This made preparation VERY simple, as it just was a matter of slicing the polenta roll into thin circles that would be layered into the lasagna dish recipe.

The end result is quite delicious and will remind you of traditional lasagna while also offering a unique variation on the common pasta dish.

Continue to read this Gluten-Free Blog for all sorts of gluten-free recipes, product-reviews, and related information. In addition, visit my Gluten-Free Recipes Site where many of the recipes I have featured on this blog are available.

10 comments:

When I saw that picture with the polenta lasagna description, I went "Ooooh" out loud! Gorgeous, and I want to make it immediately! Thanks so much to your daughter for creating it and to you for sharing it with us. :-)

Sorry you are still having some issues after your accident. Perhaps finding a highly recommended chiropractor could be helpful. For such issues, I use something I made that I just call a "corn bag." It's a tube made of cloth filled with shelled/dried corn. I just heat it in the microwave for about two minutes and then apply it to the area causing me problems. It can really help a lot. You may have seen versions of them made with dried beans or cherry pits. You can see one here (they can also be frozen and used as ice packs).

GFE,I'm glad the picture made the lasagna look enticing, and I hope you enjoy it when you bake it (or a version thereof).

Thanks for the idea about the heating/cooling "corn bag" thing. Interesting. Never heard of such a thing before. I like how simple that sounds - just tossing it in the microwave or freezer as needed to apply heat or cold. As for chiropractors, my wife and I finally were referred to PT (Physical Therapy) by our primary care physicians and we start that next week in hopes of fixing up these neck and back muscles. Everyone says it will take time, but I admit: I am impatient. In the mean time, I have some dried beans here I can make one of those bags from that you describe. Thanks again.

Mike--An easy way to try the remedy to see if it provides some relief is just to put the beans in a tube sock and tie the end. You don't need to be sewing right now with your ailment. Sorry I didn't think of that before! Best of luck to you and your wife with the PT!

That looks so yummy. I'll have to try this recipe. We love Lasagna but it is such a chore to make and takes awhile. I also found a restaurant not to far from us that has gluten-free Lasagna so I am anxious to try that too.

So sorry to hear that you're still hurt. I'm recovering from a small surgery, and I've been using a variation of the "corn bag". I made mine with rice and sewed it into a flannel bag. It worked well for me, and I liked that it was environmentally friendly.

I just wanted to share this helpful information regarding Gluten-Free Products. I've found that Whole Foods Market is a great resource to find a variety of gluten-free products. Their website lists a bunch of dietary information, nutrition facts and plenty of products to choose from...Very helpful for those who have a gluten-free diet.

I made this polenta vegetable lasagna for dinner last night, and it was so good! Even my meat-loving husband liked it. I'm trying to do several meatless meals a week both for our health and our budget, so I really appreciate easy, veggie packed meals. thank you for shearing your post.

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Gluten-Free Blog by Mike Eberhart

Like all gluten-free / Celiac persons, I want to live life to the fullest and not feel encumbered by the dietary constraints of a lifelong disease. I hope this GlutenFree Blog helps you quickly make the transition to an enjoyable and fulfilling life as you adapt to Celiac Disease and find safe and delicious alternatives for your new gluten-free diet.

Note: This site is not intended for use as a source of health, medical, legal, or professional advice, and I assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any thing else resulting from you reading this blog.